Internships

Ashley is a Master’s student in International Affairs at Baruch College’s Marxe School of Public and International Affairs, concentrating in Global Security. She is interested in memory politics, post-conflict identity, and how historical narratives shape counterterrorism strategies and foreign partnerships. While at NESA, Ashley is eager to assist with research, learn from experts on regional issues, and gain firsthand experience with U.S. foreign policy, diplomacy, and strategic cooperation across the Near East and South Asia.

Nitish is a graduate student and Washington D.C. Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University, and an M.A. in International Studies from the University of North Texas. He is passionate about US foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific, Asian politics & finances, as well as the growing role of AI in diplomacy. Prior to joining the NESA Center, Nitish interned as a Military & Democracy intern at The Chamberlain Network, as a Public Diplomacy intern with the State Department, and as an organizing intern for political campaigns. He speaks Hindi, Marathi, and Urdu with native proficiency alongside being conversant in Spanish, and Japanese.

Maggie is an undergraduate in a dual degree program between the College of William & Mary in the United States and the University of St Andrews in Scotland, pursuing a B.A. in International Relations. She currently works at an immigration law office, driven by her interest in human rights and legal representation, and has worked on due process and prisoner rights in Argentina. She previously represented the United States in Germany as a CBYX Fellow with the U.S. Department of State. Maggie is conversant in German and Spanish, and also studies Persian. Maggie looks forward to supporting faculty members and advancing her understanding of the NESA region’s complex dynamics.

Reid is a senior at James Madison University, pursuing a degree in Political Science with a developing interest in South Asian regional politics, specifically looking at the influence of external actors as well as power transition theory. Reid is excited to learn from subject matter expert faculty at NESA, and to help contribute to NESA’s security cooperation programs.

Sajid is an undergraduate at Ramapo College pursuing a major in Political Science. Sajid’s academic interests include the political history and governance of Middle Eastern and South Asian countries. Sajid leads a Young Muslim youth program at NIA Masjid, where he facilitates conversations on religious and national identity. His international experience through Model United Nations, where he collaborated on drafting resolutions and negotiating solutions at the NMUN conference in New York City, shaped his commitment the field of international affairs.